Inhibition of anion transport in the red blood cell by anionic amphiphilic compounds I. Determination of the flufenamate-binding site by proteolytic dissection of the band 3 protein

Flufenamate, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is a powerful inhibitor of anion transport in the human erythrocyte ($\text{I}{}_{50}\text{= 6·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$). The concentration dependence of the binding to ghosts reveals two saturable components. [¹⁴C]Flufenamate binds with high affinity ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}{}_1\text{= 1.2·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$) to 8.5·10⁵ sites per cell (the same value as the number of band 3 protein per cell); it also binds, with lower affinity ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}{}_2\text{= 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) to a second set of sites (4.6·10⁷ per cell). Pretreatment of cells with 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (SITS), a specific inhibitor of anion transport, prevents [¹⁴C]flufenamate binding only to high affinity sites. These results suggest that high affinity sites are located on the band 3 protein involved in anion transport. Extracellular chymotrypsin and pronase at low concentration cleave the 95 kDa band 3 into 60 kDa and 35 kDa fragments without affecting either anion transport or [¹⁴C]flufenamate binding. Splitting by trypsin at the inner membrane surface of the 60 kDa chymotryptic fragment into 17 kDa transmembrane fragment and 40 kDa water-soluble fragment does not affect [¹⁴C]flufenamate binding. In contrast degradation at the outer membrane surface of the 35 kDa fragment by high concentration of pronase or papain decreases both anion transport capacity and number of high affinity binding sites for [¹⁴C]flufenamate. Thus it appears that 35 kDa peptide is necessary for both anion transport and binding of the inhibitors and that the binding site is located in the membrane-associated domain of the band 3 protein.     

Inhibition of anion transport associated with chymotryptic cleavages of red blood cell band 3 protein

Right-side-out vesicles derived from red blood cells treated with chymotrypsin retain specific anion transport function (defined as transport sensitive to the specific inhibitor, 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS)), even though the transport protein, band 3, is cleaved into two segments of 60 and 35 kdaltons. In contrast, vesicles derived from alkali-stripped ghosts treated with relatively high concentrations of chymotrypsin retain almost no specific anion function. The loss of function appears to be related to additional cleavages of band 3 protein that occur in treated ghosts, the 60-kdalton segment being reduced first to a 17- and then to a 15-kdalton segment and the 35-kdalton segment being reduced to a 9-kdalton segment plus a carbohydrate containing fragment. The chymotryptic cleavages of band 3 protein of ghosts are preferentially inhibited by high ionic strength, the production of the 9-kdalton segment being somewhat slower than that of the 15-kdalton segment. Vesicles derived from ghosts treated with chymotrypsin at different ionic strengths show a graded reduction in specific anion transport activity, but it was not possible to determine, definitively, which of the additional cleavages was inhibitory. In the light of these data and other information, the functional role of the segments of band 3 is discussed.     

Amino acid transport via the red cell anion transport system

Evidence is presented that the red cell anion-exchange transport (Band 3) can selectively transport small neutral amino acids, including glycine, serine and cysteine, but not alanine, proline, valine and threonine. This transport is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of SITS (4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulphonate), and increased by raising the pH from 6.5 to 8.5.     

The location of a disulfonic stilbene binding site in band 3, the anion transport protein of the red blood cell membrane

The binding site for 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid, a specific, potent, irreversible inhibitor of anion transport in red blood cells is located in a 15 000 dalton transmembrane segment of band 3, produced by chymotrypsin treatment of ghosts stripped of extrinsic proteins. The segment was cleaved into three fragments of 7000, 4000 and 4000 daltons by CNBr. The C-terminus of the segment is located in the 7000 dalton fragment; the N-terminus in one of the 4000 dalton fragments; and the binding site for 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid in the middle 4000 dalton fragment. The latter was cleaved by $\text{N-}\text{bromosuccinimide}$ into two fragments of 2000 daltons. The binding site for 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid was located on the fragment containing the newly formed N-terminus. It is concluded that the binding site is located about 9000 daltons from the C-terminus (at the outside face of the membrane) and 6000 daltons from the N-terminus (at the cytoplasmic face). In view of the existing evidence that the binding site may be located near the outside face of the membrane, it is suggested that the 15 000 dalton segment is folded, so that it crosses the bilayer three times.     

Anion transport in red blood cells and arginine-specific reagents: The location of [14C]Phenylglyoxal binding sites in the anion transport protein in the membrane of human red cells

The reaction of phenylglyoxal, a reagent specific for arginine residues, with erythrocyte membrane at pH 7.4 results in complete inhibition of sulfate equilibrium exchange across human red cells. The inactivation was found to be concentration and time depenent. The binding sites of this reagent in the anion transport protein (band 3) under these conditions were determined by using [¹⁴C]phenylglyoxal. The rate of incorporation of the radioactivity into band 3 gave a good correlation with the rate of inactivation. Under conditions where the transport is completely inhibited about 6 mol [¹⁴C]phenylglyoxal are incorporated into 1 mol band 3. Treating the [¹⁴C]phenylglyoxalated ghosts at different degrees of inactivation with extracellular chymotrypsin showed that about two-thirds of these binding sites are located on the 60 kDa fragment.     

Interaction of phloretin with the anion transport protein of the red blood cell membrane

Phloretin is an inhibitor of anion exchange and glucose and urea transport in human red cells. Equilibrium binding and kinetic studies indicate that phloretin binds to band 3, a major integral protein of the red cell membrane. Equilibrium phloretin binding has been found to be competitive with the binding of the anion transport inhibitor, 4,4′-dibenzamido-2,2′-disulfonic stilbene (DBDS), which binds specifically to band 3. The apparent binding (dissociation) constant of phloretin to red cell ghost band 3 in 28.5 mM citrate buffer, pH 7.4, 25°C, determined from equilibrium binding competition, is $\text{1.8 ± 0.1}\text{μM}$. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that phloretin decreases the rate of DBDS binding to band 3 in a purely competitive manner, with an apparent phloretin inhibition constant of $\text{1.6 ± 0.4}\text{μM}$. The pH dependence of equilibrium binding studies show that it is the charged, anionic form of phloretin that competes with DBDS binding, with an apparent phloretin inhibition constant of 1.4 μM. The phloretin binding and inhibition constants determined by equilibrium binding, kinetic and pH studies are all similar to the inhibition constant of phloretin for anion exchange. These studies suggest that phloretin inhibits anion exchange in red cells by a specific interaction between phloretin and band 3.     

Respiration and sodium transport in rabbit urinary bladder

Respiration of rabbit urinary bladder was measured in free-floating pieces and in short-circuited pieces mounted in an Ussing chamber. Ouabain, amiloride, and potassium-free saline inhibited respiration approx. 20%; sodium-free saline depressed respiration approx. 40–50%. The coupling ratio between respiration and transport in short-circuited tissues was about two sodium ions per molecule O₂. Chloride-free saline depressed mean oxygen consumption 21% in free-floating tissue pieces; 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (SITS) and furosemide had no effect. The effect of chloride-free saline in short-circuited tissues was variable; in tissues with low transport rates, respiration was stimulated about 21% while in tissue with high transport rates respiration was reduced about 24%. Nystatin and monensin, both of which markedly increase the conductance of cell membranes with a concomitant increase in sodium entry, stimulated respiration. These data indicate that 50–60% of the total oxygen consumption is not influenced by sodium, 20–25% is linked to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase transport, while the remaining 25–30% is sodium-dependent but not ouabain-inhibitable.     

The effects of general anaesthetics on glucose and phosphate transport across the membrane of the human erythrocyte

A study has been carried out into the effects of clinically important general anaesthetics, althesin, thiopentone and propanidid, on the transport of glucose and phosphate across the membrane of the human erythrocyte. In general these three substances all inhibit both transport processes but with characteristic inhibition profiles and varying degrees of efficacy. Glucose transport was more sensitive to the hydrophobic steroids and phosphate transport to propanidid. Some hydrophobic agents, e.g., iodobenzene and its azide, were not inhibitory. Removal of cholesterol to some extent augmented the inhibitory effects of most of these compounds (not propanidid). It is argued that these effects are due to the penetration of the anaesthetics into the lipid bilayer and either subsequent disruption of the lipid annuli surrounding the integral membrane proteins and/or direct anaesthetic-protein interaction.     

A relationship between anion transport and a structural transition of the human erythrocyte membrane

Scanning microcalorimetry was employed as an aid in examining some structural features of the anion transport system in red blood cell vesicles. Two structural transitions were previously shown to be sensitive to several covalent and non-covalent inhibitors of anion transport in red cells. In this study, these transitions were selectively removed, either thermally or enzymatically, and the subsequent effect on ³⁵SO₄^2? efflux in red cell vesicles was determined. It is shown that removal of one of these transitions (B₂) has a negligible inhibitory effect on anion transport. Cytoplasmic, intermolecular disulfide linkages between band 3 dimers are known to form during the B₂ transition. The integrity of the 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate-sensitive C transition, on the other hand, is shown to be a requirement for anion transport. The localized region of the membrane giving rise to this transition contains the transmembrane segment of band 3, as well as membrane phospholipids. The calorimetric results suggest a structure of band 3 which involves independent structural domains, and are consistent with the transmembrane segment playing a direct role in the transport process.     

Inhibition of anion permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles by stilbene derivatives and the identification of an inhibitor-binding protein

The permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to sulfate ions was inhibited by diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenylethane-2,2′-disulfonic acid (H₂DIDS), which is a potent inhibitor of anion permeability in red blood cell membrane. The amount of H₂DIDS bound to the vesicles was determined by using [³H]-H₂DIDS. Apparent half inhibition of sulfate permeation was observed on the binding of 2.5 μmol/g protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the vesicles treated with [³H]H₂DIDS showed that about 10% of the total bound H₂DIDS corresponds to a 100 000-dalton protein, but the remaining 90% to non-protein components. The content of the H₂DIDS-binding protein was about 0.5 μmol/g protein. These results suggest that the H₂DIDS-binding protein is different from the calcium pump protein and is possibly an anion transport system similar to band 3 in red blood cell membrane.     

A comparison of the inhibitory potency of reversibly acting inhibitors of anion transport on chloride and sulfate movements across the human red cell membrane

The effects of a variety of chemically diverse, reversibly acting inhibitors have been measured on both Cl^? and SO₄^2? equilibrium exchange across the human red cell membrane. The measurements were carried out under the same conditions (pH 6.3, 8°C) and in the same medium for both the Cl^? and SO₂⁴ tracer fluxes. Under these conditions the rate constant for Cl^?-Cl^? exchange is about 20 000 times larger than that for SO₄^2?-SO₄^2? exchange. Despite this large difference in the rates of transport of the two anions, eight different reversibly acting inhibitors have virtually the same effect on the Cl^? and SO₄^2? transport. The proteolytic enzyme papain also has the same inhibitory effect on both the Cl^? and SO₄^2? self-exchange. In addition, the slowly penetrating disulfonate 2-(4′-aminophenyl)-6-methylbenzenethiazol-3′,7-disulfonic acid (APMB) is 5-fold more effective from the outer than from the inner membrane surface in inhibiting both Cl^? and SO₄^2? self-exchange. We interpret these results as evidence that the rapidly penetrating monovalent anion Cl^? and the slowly penetrating divalent anion SO₄^2? are transported by the same system.     

Effect of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine on HCO3− transport in turtle bladder: Evidence for electrogenic HCO3− secretion

Ouabain-treated turtle bladders bathed on both surfaces by identical HCO₃^?/CO₂-containing, Cl^?-free Na⁺ media exhibit a short-circuit current (I_sc) and transepithelial potential (p.d.) serosa electronegative to mucosa. Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, rapidly reverses the direction of the I_sc and p.d.. The IBMX-induced reversal of I_sc and p.d. is (1) dependent on the presence of HCO₃^? (and CO₂) in the serosal bathing fluid, (2) independent of Na⁺ and other ions in the bathing medium, (3) decreased by inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase or oxidative metabolism, (4) increased by the serosal addition of cyclic AMP or the disulfonic stilbene, SITS. The results constitute evidence that the reversed I_sc elicited by IBMX represents electrogenic secretion of HCO₃^?.     

The effects of anion transport inhibitors on structural transitions in erythrocyte membranes

Red blood cell membranes have been labeled with several covalent and non-covalent inhibitors of anion transport and their heat capacity profiles determined as a function of temperature. Covalent inhibitors include the amino reactive agents 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, pyridoxal phosphate and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitro benzene. The non-covalent inhibitors include several well known local anesthetics. The study was undertaken in order to identify regions of the membrane involved in anion transport. Covalent modification in all cases resulted in a large upward shift of the C transition, which is believed to involved a localized phospholipid region. Evidence is presented which indicates that Band III protein and this phospholipid region are in close physical proximity on the membrane. Addition of non-covalent inhibitors affects the membrane in either or both of two ways. In some cases, a lowering and broadening of the C transition occurs; in other the B₁ and B₂ transitions are altered. These latter transitions are believed to involve both phospholipid and protein, including Band III. These results may indicate that the non-covalent inhibitors produce their inhibitory effect on anion transport at least in part by interacting with membrane phospholipid.     

Inhibition of α-aminoisobutyric acid uptake by diisothiocyanostilbenedisulphonic acid in the amphibian cornea

α-Aminoisobutyric acid accumulation of the toad's (Bufo marinus) cornea and lens is inhibited by 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid. This effect is seen at pH 8.4; at pH 7.4 a small increase in aminoisobutyric acid uptake was observed. Efflux of aminoisobutyric acid is unchanged by diisothiocyanostilbenedisulphonic acid at either pH. The inhibitory effect of diisothiocyanostilbenedisulphonic acid on aminoisobutyric acid accumulation appears to reflect a direct action on membrane mechanisms that mediate its influx.     

Effect of staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin upon anion transport in the rabbit erythrocyte

Equilibrium exchange of SO₄^2? was measured prior to and during hemolysis in rabbit erythrocytes exposed to staphylococcal α-hemolysin. The anion-transport protein of the rabbit erythrocyte has also been identified. Equilibrium exchange of SO₄^2? was measured by both efflux and influx of ³⁵SO₄^2?. The rate of influx of SO₄^2? in rabbit erythrocytes exposed to α-hemolysin was twice that of the untreated cells. The rate of SO₄^2? efflux was unchanged by α-hemolysin. Inhibition of anion exchange with 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS) did not inhibit hemolysis, therefore, the increased influx of SO₄^2? may occur through a DIDS-insensitive pathway.     

Interaction of phenylisothiocyanate with human erythrocyte band 3 protein I. Covalent modification and inhibition of phosphate transport

The hydrophobic probe phenylisothiocyanate is utilized for chemical modification of human erythrocyte band 3 protein. The binding of phenylisothiocyanate to this protein is characterized in whole erythrocytes, erythrocyte ghost membranes and in isolated band 3 protein. The label, reactive with nucleophiles in their deprotonated form, is found in all three preparations to be covalently bound to band 3 protein. Under saturation conditions, 4–5 mol phenylisothiocyanate are covalently bound per mol protein (molecular weight 95 000). The described modification effects inhibition of phosphate entry into erythrocytes. 50% inhibition of phosphate transport is obtained following a preincubation of erythrocytes with 0.45 mM phenylisothiocyanate. Both phenylisothiocyanate binding and transport inhibition are saturating processes. The relationship of the two parameters is non-linear.     

Specific drug sensitive transport pathways for chloride and potassium ions in steady-state ehrlich mouse ascites tumor cells

A major aim of this investigation was to determine whether, in steady-state ascites cells, Cl^? transport can be partitioned into a furosemide-sensitive cotransport with K⁺ and a separate 4,4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS) sensitive self-exchange. Both Cl^? and K⁺ fluxes were studied. The furosemide- and Cl^? sensitive K⁺ fluxes were equivalent, both in normal ionic media and when the external K⁺ concentration, [K⁺]_o, was varied from 4 to 30 mM. The stoichiometry of the furosemide-sensitive Cl^? and K⁺ fluxes was 2 Cl^?: 1 K⁺ at 0.1 and 0.5 mM drug levels but increased to 3 Cl^? : 1 K⁺ at 1.0 mM furosemide. DIDS at 0.1 mM had no effect on the K⁺ exchange rate but inhibited Cl^? exchange by $\text{39\% ± 2}$ (S.E.). The effects of DIDS and 0.5 mM furosemide on Cl^? transport were additive but 1.0 mM furosemide and DIDS had overlapping inhibitory actions. Thus furosemide acts on components of K⁺ and Cl^? transport which are linked to each other, but the drug also inhibits an additional DIDS-sensitive Cl^? pathway, when present at higher concentrations. The dependence of the furosemide-sensitive K⁺ and Cl^? transport on [K⁺]_o was also studied; both fluxes fell as the [K⁺]_o increased. The latter results recall those in an earlier study by Hempling (Hempling, H.G. (1962) J. Cell. Comp. Physiol. 60, 181–198).     

Mediated transport of anions in band 3-phospholipid vesicles

Band 3 protein, extracted from human erythrocyte membranes by Triton X-100, was recombined with egg lecithin/cholesterol mixtures to form small unilamellar vesicles at a yield of 15–20%. These systems exhibited sulfate fluxes which were inhibitable by stilbene disulfonates and other inhibitors. Maximal inhibition could only be obtained when inhibitors were present at both membrane surfaces. Inhibitor constants $\text{I}{}_{50}$ were higher than in the native membrane. Quantitatively, transport function was retained at least 60%, as related to the amount of protein involved. Sulfate transport in the recombinates resembled transport in the native membrane with respect to temperature dependence ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{= 29?32}\text{kcal}\text{/}\text{mol}$), pH dependence between pH 6.5 and 7.8, and the relationship between net and exchange fluxes. In contrast to the native cell, concentration dependence was linear up to 80 mM sulfate, which may be indicative of a lowered affinity for the substrate. Lactate transport in these systems, although substantial, was insensitive to stilbene disulfonates as well as to mercurials, indicating that band 3 is not involved in the specific monocarboxylate transfer in the erythrocyte. Anion transport in band 3-lipid recombinates was insensitive to cholesterol between 0 and 27 mol%. Treatment with proteases, while not affecting transport per se, abolished sensitivity to stilbene disulfonate inhibitors. These observations indicate a number of disturbances of band 3 after recombination, in spite of a preservation of the major transport properties.     

Phospholipid dependence of the anion transport system of the human erythrocyte membrane. Studies on reconstituted band 3/lipid vesicles

Band 3 protein extracted from human erythrocyte membranes by Triton X-100 was recombined with the major classes of phospholipid occurring in the erythrocyte membrane. The resulting vesicle systems were characterized with respect to recoveries, phospholipid composition, protein content and vesicle size as well as capacity and activation energy of sulfate transport. Transport was classified into band-3-specific fluxes and unspecific permeability by inhibitors. Transport numbers (sulfate ions per band 3 per minute) served as a measure of functional recovery after reconstitution. The transport properties of band 3 proved to be insensitive to replacement of phosphatidylcholine by phosphatidylethanolamine, while sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine gradually inactivated band-3-specific anion transport when present at mole fractions exceeding 30 mol%. The activation energy of transport remained unaltered in spite of the decrease in transport numbers. The results, which are discussed in terms of requirements of band 3 protein function with respect to the fluidity and surface charge of its lipid environment, provide a new piece of evidence that the transport function of band 3 protein depends on the properties of its lipid environment just as the catalytic properties of some other membrane enzymes. The well-established species differences in anion transport (Gruber, W. and Deuticke, B. (1973) J. Membrane Biol. 13, 19–36) may to some extent reflect this lipid dependence.     

Temperature dependence of anion transport in the human red blood cell

Arrhenius plots of chloride and bromide transport yield two regions with different activation energies (E_a). Below 15 or 25°C (for Cl⁻ and Br⁻, respectively), E_a is about 32.5 kcal/mol; above these temperatures, about 22.5 kcal/mol (Brahm, J. (1977) J. Gen. Physiol. 70, 283–306). For the temperature dependence of SO₄²⁻ transport up to 37°C, no such break could be observed. We were able to show that the temperature coefficient for the rate of SO₄²⁻ transport is higher than that for the rate of denaturation of the band 3 protein (as measured by NMR) or the destruction of the permeability barrier in the red cell membrane. It was possible, therefore, to extend the range of flux measurements up to 60°C and to show that, even for the slowly permeating SO₄²⁻ in the Arrhenius plot, there appears a break, which is located somewhere between 30 and 37°C and where E_a changes from 32.5 to 24.1 kcal/mol. At the break, the turnover number is approx. 6.9 ions/band 3 per s. Using ³⁵Cl⁻-NMR (Falke, Pace and Chan (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 6472–6480), we also determined the temperature dependence of Cl⁻-binding. We found no significant change over the entire range from 0 to 57°C, regardless of whether the measurements were performed in the absence or presence of competing SO₄²⁻. We conclude that the enthalpy changes associated with Cl⁻-or SO₄²⁻-binding are negligible as compared to the E_a values observed. It was possible, therefore, to calculate the thermodynamic parameters defined by transition-state theory for the transition of the anion-loaded transport protein to the activated state for Cl⁻, Br⁻ and SO₄²⁻ below and above the temperatures at which the breaks in the Arrhenius plots are seen. We found in both regions a high positive activation entropy, resulting in a low free enthalpy of activation. Thus the internal energy required for carrying the complex between anion and transport protein over the rate-limiting energy barrier is largely compensated for by an increase of randomness in the protein and/or its aqueous environment.